Aditya Narayan is an actor, playback singer, television host. In an exclusive interaction with The Free Press Journal, the actor opens up about his journey, reality show Indian Idol season 13 which can be seen on Sony Entertainment Television, and more. Excerpts:
How do you look at your hosting experience?
Primarily, I feel over the years I have become more comfortable. When I started, I felt the need to put on a little smile and show my excitement. But now, our audiences and fans want to see the real Aditya. The day I understood this, I became more comfortable being Aditya than being a host. The more authentic I have been to myself, the better I have become. So consciously, when I go to the set, I try to be myself.
You seem to be spontaneous. Is it not scripted?
Yes, in terms of scripting, the good part is we have worked so much together as a team, which has been the same. All of us have realized the real beauty of making a show like Indian Idol is primarily to live in the moment. We make a set pattern for the show. This will be the beginning, the middle, and the end. We keep it free-flowing. The contestants are new and bring that new style. We interact with them in a casual manner, as if a guest had come to visit us at home. I keep the conversation very organic and, from there, some majedar conversations come up.
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Do you give inputs for the show?
We have an open approach towards the show. My entire team and I understand that bringing the same thing back will not result in the show’s success. We always try to present every season with a difference. At the end of the day, we don’t know how to make a successful show. There is always scope for betterment, and we consider everyone’s suggestions. We also contemplate how to make the contestants comfortable and add relevance to the show.
What does fatherhood mean to you?
I have realized over time that just being there and showing up is important. I try to do it for my daughter. I watch and observe her every act that is significant to me. We have allusions of grandeur doing something big, but in reality, simple things matter. I just want to be there for my daughter.
Do you think reality shows help in highlighting talent?
In India, no amount of reality shows is enough to bring to the forefront the quantity and quality of talent available in abundance. Indian Idol has become the primary music reality show. It’s a responsibility to us to provide more platforms for them to bring their best talent and entertain the audience.
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